[WMCoolmon]

Winamp has started accessing the internet for no apparent reason, after I installed it with the Media Library, so I'm curious if there's another player that

- Has global hotkeys
- Collapses to a bar thingamabob
- Has some sort of media library
- Plays MPC, OGG, MP3, s3m, IT, XM
- Either uses the current color scheme or is skinnable (as a bar)

Suggestions can also include Linux programs; I'm thinking of trying out the new Ubuntu as my Yoper install has crapped out (again, although this may be one of the problems that'll fix itself spontaneously - after it says "Init version 2.85 booting", nothing happens.)

[MatthewPapa]

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

I dunno about hotkeys but this is the best media player that I have ever used. Plays almost anything.

[Scuddie]

Be sure that whatever video you are playing doesn't have a high processing decompression (i.e. DivX HD) without having an up-to-par system by today's standards.  VLC may be able to decode even non-standard CODECs, but it is demanding as hell.  I cant even play a DVD movie on my Athlon T-Bird 1400 with VLC.

[kode]

I say VLC too. and/or check winamp settings to turn off it's internet stuff, because it's a lot better at playing mp3s

but yeah, on this 1ghz epia comp, it can play a little choppy. unfortunately, ffdshow gets pic and audio out of synch, so...

[ZylonBane]

Winamp 2.95 for audio (anything higher is bloatware).
Media Player Classic for video.

[Taristin]

I use media player classis, and divX player, because I'm too lazy to get anything else.

Oh. For Music, I use Winamp.


Winamp 5, though, I think.  And it's never accessed the net on me...

[Blitzerland]

Quintessential Player works nicely.

[vyper]

The reason winamp will be accessing the net is to download album information (like artwork and the likes).  

[Grey Wolf]

I've just become annoyed with iTunes, and blown the dust off my old copy of WinAmp. Incidentally, any important changes between 2.81 and 2.95? Trying to decide if I'm going to bother to update.

[vyper]

I think it was a security issue that was resolved.

[Kamikaze]

On Windows I like to use Foobar2000. It has a very simple (i.e. not pretty) UI, but is small and full-featured.

On *nix...

Winamp lookalikes (both clone Winamp 2.x):

XMMS: Uses GTK1.x and as a result it looks old. It's basically a clone of winamp 2.x.
Beep Media Player: Uses GTK2.x so its menus look better.

Other players:

Rhythmbox: GNOME application that mimics itunes. There's a miniature mode too. Can only be skinned via WM/GTK themes.
Mplayer: Can be skinned to be small. Poor playlist and integration with DE. Large range of supported formats.